Assessment of genetic diversity within eucheumatoid cultivars in east Sabah, Malaysia
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2-1-2022
Abstract
Studies have shown that cultivars of the carrageenophytes Kappaphycus and Eucheuma are clones of a limited number of strains originally domesticated from wild populations. For the development and selection of new cultivars, it is important that a comprehensive record of available variants exists. This study was conducted to provide up-to-date analysis and compilation of the current state of cultivars as the last list of cultivars was compiled nearly a decade ago. The present study analyzed the cox2-3 spacer and cox1 (1356 bp) genetic diversity of cultivars collected from 2019 to 2020 from the east coast of Sabah where the seaweed farms are concentrated. These data were compared with cultivars reported from 2010 to 2012 to assess changes, if any, to the gene pool of farmed eucheumatoid in Malaysia. Kappaphycus alvarezii, K. striatus, and K. malesianus are currently cultivated while Eucheuma denticulatum is no longer an important cultivar compared to a decade ago, probably due to its lower price. Analysis of the cox2-3 spacer revealed a new haplotype, LBT10, and, by including published GenBank data, a further four previously unnamed haplotypes were recognized from Sabah. This study confirms that there is a limited gene pool within cultivars in Malaysia and suggests the need for new or genetically diverse cultivars which can adapt to a changing environment, to ensure a more sustainable carrageenan industry.
Keywords
Kappaphycus, Eucheuma, Rhodophyta, Cultivation, Genetic variation, cox2-3 spacer, cox1
Divisions
ocean
Funders
UKRI through the GlobalSeaweed-STAR project [BB/P027806/1] [IF015-2019],GlobalSeaweedSTAR Research Fund [RF002] [IF059-2019],Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia through the Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE) project [IOES-2014H]
Publication Title
Journal of Applied Phycology
Volume
34
Issue
1
Publisher
Springer Verlag
Publisher Location
VAN GODEWIJCKSTRAAT 30, 3311 GZ DORDRECHT, NETHERLANDS